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Are you ready to change things up a bit with chemical free green cleaning? One of the things I love about essential oils is their versatility. To be honest, when I started using them I had no idea what I could do with them and how they would improve everything from my health to my environment. When I figured out I could replace things I already purchased with simple, easy, quick, do-it-yourself recipes, I was elated! Cleaning up the toxins from my home was the first step to creating health for my family. I used to be a big candle burner because I loved the smells, not realizing I was initiating poor air quality. I have since changed things up, and with a few simple ingredients such as vinegar, water, high-quality essential oils and my diffuser I am now contributing to a toxin-free home environment. I love creating a welcoming atmosphere, and I receive many compliments from friends when they come to visit. I also love the fact that essential oils are just pennies per drop and I am saving a lot of money when it comes to cleaning supplies.Favorite Essential Oils for Chemical Free Green Cleaning

Lemon – is cold-pressed from lemon rinds to preserve its delicate nature and potent properties. It uplifts mood, (which can make for happy cleaning), is a powerful cleaning agent, and can be used throughout the home as a non-toxic cleaner.

Wild Orange – is also cold pressed from the peel and releases an energizing citrus aroma. It is a powerful cleanser and purifying agent. One of my favorites in the diffuser or it mixes well in a small bottle with some water for a room freshening spray. And to be honest, I wear this stuff as a natural perfume.

Melaleuca – more commonly called “tea tree,” has 90 different compounds and limitless applications. It can be used on surfaces throughout the home to protect against environmental threats. Diffusing Melaleuca will help purify and freshen the home.

On Guard – features a combination of Wild Orange, Clove Bud, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary. Its unique aroma offers a fragrant alternative to synthetic options. Safe to use on countertops, as a non-toxic cleaner, or to purify the air through diffusion.

Any smell you like – That’s right! I find myself mixing it up occasionally. I like to put a drop of White Fir in the toilet after cleaning it and let it sit in the room until the next flush. I also add Cassia to my room sprays. Mixed with a little Wild Orange, it smells amazing! I am led to the citrus-pine smells because I like the uplifting atmosphere they create but the sky is the limit.

Other Alternative Cleaning Products for Chemical Free Green Cleaning

Baking Soda: scrubs, whitens, deodorizes, and cuts grease.

Liquid Castile Soap: vegetable-based soap commonly found in health food stores. Dr. Bronner’s is a popular one. Look for unscented.

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (it’s going to gurgle) right before toilet wash, add to toilet bowl, brush and you’re done!

RobynMitchell is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She empowers women to nurture themselves by taking simple steps to create a life they love. Her holistic approach to life includes essential oils, nutrition, and self-care. Follow Robyn at www.naturallysimplesolutions.me

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What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a stress-related condition that occurs when the adrenal glands function below their optimal levels. The adrenal glands are small, rounded glands on top of each kidney. They are essential for life, as they secrete hormones that prepare the body to respond to stress (Wilson, 2014).

The adrenals are our “fight or flight” glands (Bauman, 2015). They perform several vital roles in maintaining health. Their most important function is to control the body’s response to stress by releasing hormones like cortisol, noradrenalin, and epinephrine. The adrenal glands also produce other hormones like DHEA, pregnenelone, progesterone, and testosterone.

Adrenal fatigue (hypoadrenia) is the result of repeated overstimulation of the adrenal glands for a long period due to chronic stress. Over time the adrenal glands may no longer be able to adequately respond to stressful situations.

Signs and Symptoms

Constantly feeling exhausted is one of the most common symptoms in Adrenal Fatigue. Other symptoms include feeling very tired in the morning and wide awake at night, inability to handle stress, cravings for salty foods, a weakened immune system, disruption of healthy sleeping patterns, digestive and thyroid issues, and low sex drive.

Restoring Adrenal Health

Stress increases our bodies’ need for energy, and nutrients are burned up much faster when we experience stress (Wilson, 2014). Actively choosing foods that aid and support recovery is the foundation for any healing process.

When it comes to adrenal health, a blood sugar balancing diet with a focus on high quality proteins and fats is crucial (Bauman, 2015). Fats and proteins are important for the formation of hormones, neurotransmitters, and enzymes necessary for the restoration of adrenal health.

Processed foods – these foods are void of nutrients and make the body work harder to process all the chemicals, trans fats, toxins, and preservatives

Table salt – has been stripped of all its minerals, is mostly sodium chloride, and contains anticaking agents

Any food you’re allergic to – eating foods you’re allergic to triggers the immune response which results in inflammation and creates stress in the body

Adaptogens

Adaptogens are a unique group of herbs used to improve the health of the adrenal system. They help strengthen the body’s response to stress, enhance its ability to cope with anxiety, and fight fatigue.

These herbs restore overall balance. They can be strengthening and/or relaxing, depending on the body’s needs. When taken daily as a tea, tincture, or extract, these herbs may help improve your mental functioning. Examples of adaptogenic herbs include ginseng, holy basil, ashwagandha, rhodiola, licorice, and maca.

Lifestyle Support

Balance the blood sugar by eating regularly throughout the day.

Sleep 8 to 9 hours per night. Try to be in bed by 10 or 10:30 pm.

Journal both positive and negative thoughts to get them out of your head. Write three things you’re grateful before bedtime to end the day on a positive note.

Moderate exercise – walking, swimming, yoga, tai chi daily.

Meditation and breathing. Even 5-10 minutes per day is beneficial! Breathe deep whenever you are feeling stressed.

Recognize perceived stress and learn to let go.

When the root cause of adrenal fatigue is addressed, (which are the stressors in your life), the adrenals can heal and begin to function normally. By changing our diet, lifestyle, and how we manage stress, adrenal fatigue can be reversed.

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“Probiotic” is the new buzzword in health food marketing, along with probiotic supplements. But what exactly are probiotics and why do we need them?

Probiotics are basically the good bacteria that live inside our gut. All of the bacteria that live within our body is called the “microbiome”.

The microbiome is an ecosystem within us. It’s made of communities of both good and bad bacteria which call our bodies home. In fact, we have more bacteria than we do our own cells! Our gut bacteria is strongly tied to our immune system, and serves other functions as well:

When our bad bacteria outnumber our beneficial bacteria, our “microbiome” becomes out of balance and we become vulnerable to illnesses such as arthritis, thyroid imbalance, chronic fatigue, autism, depression, IBS, and cancer. In fact, more than 40 diseases have been linked to bacterial imbalance. Seventy percent of our immune system is in the gut. Isn’t it interesting that gut health and immune health are so closely related?

WHAT CREATES IMBALANCE?

Modern life affects our microbiome in a negative way. The invention of the refrigerator eliminated the need for fermented foods, which are high in beneficial bacteria. “Antibacterial” soaps and hand sanitizer, as well as antibiotics, kill both bad and good bacteria.

Our American diet of sugar, processed foods, commercial meats, and unhealthy fats (from crackers, chips, etc.), as well as medications, can reduce the number of good bacteria in the gut and allow the bad bacteria to take over. Genetically modified foods and stress also kill good bacteria. As you can see, almost everyone can benefit by adding probiotics to your daily routine.

Foods rich in probiotics include fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, yogurt, miso, and kefir. It’s important that the bacteria is “live”, so canned sauerkraut and processed yogurt with “fruit on the bottom” are not good sources. If purchasing in the store, sauerkraut and other fermented foods need to be in the refrigerated section. Or you can make your own at home, which is more economical, and you control the ingredients!

SUPPLEMENTS

Probiotic supplements are an effective way to balance the gut when food sources are not enough. They’re an effective way to colonize the gut with good bacteria more quickly.

What to look for in a quality supplement:

* What are the number of strains and the right strains for the health issue? Strains are different types of bacteria that have different functions.

* How many probiotics are in the supplement?

* How the supplement is created and bacteria kept alive? If the bacteria is dead, it won’t do you any good. A good quality probiotic will be refrigerated. There are some freeze-dried probiotics

which are effective, but my probiotic of choice is Innate Response Brand. All of their products are high quality and food based, and can be purchased at Jade Star Acupuncture.

* A good probiotic will have an expiration date.

What do the numbers mean?

* 5-14 means there are 5 billion active cells from 14 different strains

* 20-14 = 20 billion active cells from 14 strains

* 50-14 = 50 billion active cells from 14 strains

Someone with a weak digestion or chronic illness may not be able to handle a high dose of probiotic foods or supplements. Starting slow (1 TBSP of food or a lower dose of probiotic) and increasing the amount slowly will help your body adjust to your new friends!

What are your thoughts on probiotics? Integral to our health, or just another health fad?

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Summer is here – hip hip hooray! Long, lazy days, family gatherings, potlucks, cool early mornings, swimming, puzzles, and monsoon season are just a few of my favorite things about this time of year.

It’s also stifling hot in Arizona, which means I keep cooking to a bare minimum. Salads, soups made in the blender, grilled veggies, crock pot meals, and smoothies are so easy to prepare, and don’t heat up the kitchen.

Whether you’re making a salad-for-dinner, potluck dish, or flavorful and filling lunch for the week, Fresh Three Bean and Corn Salad is your answer! It’s easy to throw together, and is perfect on its own or as a side dish. It’s pretty and colorful, and contains amazingly healthy herbs like parsley, oregano, and mint. And the combination of herbs, garlic, and lemon is seriously refreshing!

I was first introduced to this salad at a work potluck. Did I eat more than my share of this delightfulness? Yes. Yes I did.

With mint lodged between my teeth, I begged my coworker for her amazing recipe. She graciously shared it (and informed me of my mint situation. Thank you, Victoria!). The original recipe can be found here.

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You’re exhausted yet you have trouble sleeping at night. You can’t lose weight no matter how much you diet and exercise. You’re always constipated, and annoyed with everyone around you. If this sounds like your day to day life, you could be one of the 20 million Americans with a thyroid disorder (American Thyroid Association).

If you’ve been diagnosed or believe you may have hypothyroidism, there are steps you can take to support your body systems. Even if you’re taking medication for your condition, it’s crucial to supply the body with certain nutrients that are often deficient in individuals with an under-active thyroid gland.

What does the thyroid do?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland found at the base of the neck. This small gland is responsible for a number of critical body functions, including metabolism, body temperature, heart function, weight, fertility, blood pressure, and energy levels.

The thyroid works with other endocrine glands. Signals are sent between these glands and tell the thyroid when to produce hormones (T4 and T3). T4 needs to convert to T3, which is the “active hormone”. This conversion takes place mainly in the liver and tissues (Bauman, 2015).

What is hypothyroidism?

Issues arise when there is a disruption in gland communication, when the body doesn’t convert T4 to active T3, and/or when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. This is called hypothyroidism, and affects the entire body. Because the thyroid is responsible for so many body functions, day-to-day life can be deeply affected by this condition.

Is Hashimoto’s the same as hypothyroidism?

No. Also known as autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid. This causes inflammation and leads to an underactive thyroid gland. Antibodies eventually destroy the thyroid. A person may have Hashimoto’s disease but not be hypothyroid. In fact, it’s not uncommon for an individual with Hashimoto’s to cycle between hypo- and hyperthyroidism (Shoman, 2014).

Sea Vegetables – an excellent source of iodine and trace minerals. Sea veggies include agar agar, bladderwrack, dulse, hijiki, kombu, nori, and wakame. These can be taken as a supplement or enjoyed in a salad or as a wrap.

Foods to Avoid

Gluten – new evidence reveals a link between thyroid conditions and gluten intolerance due to similarities between gluten molecules and thyroid tissue (Kresser, 2010). Learn more about gluten here.

Iodized Salt – table salt is processed, bleached, and stripped of minerals. Instead, use Pink Himalayan salt, which is unprocessed and includes 84 trace minerals the body needs.

Soy – soy is disruptive to the endocrine system, known to negatively affect estrogen, and most soy is genetically modified. Acceptable soy foods are fermented and include tempeh, natto, and miso (Bauman, 2015).

Aspartame – also known as Equal or Nutrasweet, chemicals in this sugar alternative may cause thyroid malfunction. Use stevia, honey, or maple syrup to sweeten instead (lowthyroiddiet.com).

What About Goitrogens?

Goitrogens interfere with iodine uptake, which is essential for thyroid function. There is much debate whether or not “goitrogenic” foods affect thyroid function. Peanuts, millet, soy and cruciferous foods are considered goitrogenic. Most soy should be avoided for the reasons mentioned above. Cruciferous foods such as kale, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, etc. must be consumed raw and in large quantities (more than 4 cups per day) to affect an individual with an existing thyroid condition. If you’re worried about eating cruciferous veggies, cooking or lightly steaming will remove goitrogenic compounds (whfoods.com).

Nutritional Support

Balancing hormones is a priority when healing a thyroid issue. Because certain vitamins and minerals are lacking in hypothyroidism, it’s important to eat foods high in these nutrients and supplement when necessary. What you eat has a big impact on your road to recovery.

Zinc – 30 – 50 mg of chelated form per day if deficient. Foods include oysters, organic beef, sesame and pumpkin seeds, and crab (Bauman 2015).

Lifestyle Support

Stress has a big impact on the endocrine system, particularly the thyroid and adrenal glands. Additionally, it’s common for individuals with a thyroid condition to also have issues with adrenal function (the glands that control how we respond to stress). It’s important to reduce stress in order to allow the body to heal. Yoga, meditation, exercise, journal writing, acupuncture, getting at least 8 hours of sleep, and even talking with a therapist are ways we can reduce stress and nourish our body, mind, and spirit (Bauman 2015).